Homeless? 3 Tips To Help You Win Visitation Time With Your Kids

More than 3.5 million Americans are homeless. If you do not have a permanent legal residence at the moment, you might be terrified that a court will refuse to let you see your children. Don't give up on seeing your kids just yet, though. Your living situation is just one of many factors that a judge considers before awarding custody or creating a visitation schedule, and some judges even award sole custody to homeless parents. Whether you have an upcoming custody trial or plan to file for visitation soon, the tips below can help ensure that you score plenty of time with your children.

Provide the Necessities

Some folks mistakenly assume that all homeless people are unemployed and live in a cardboard box under a bridge. The reality of the situation is that nearly half of all homeless people have jobs, and many of them live in shelters or temporary housing facilities. If you can afford basic necessities for your kids and have a place where they can sleep each night, this may help your case. Before you go to court, make sure that your living area has:

• Bedding, such as blankets and pillows, for each of your children
• Toiletries, such as shampoo or toothpaste, that the kids can use when they visit
• Access to fresh water for bathing and drinking

It's important to provide these things, whether you rotate between the basements of different family members or have an assigned space at a local shelter. This shows the judge that you can provide adequate care for your children, even though your living situation is temporarily unstable.

Address the Cause

Why did you become homeless? Sometimes factors out of your control, such as an unexpected job termination or a serious medical condition, can affect your living situation. Other times, you helped play a role in your situation. If that's the case, don't dwell on the past -- address the culprit and move forward. Here are some ideas that may help you improve your situation and show the judge that you truly want to change:

• Schedule an appointment with a mental healthcare provider and take your prescribed medications if bipolar disorder, depression, or another untreated mental condition caused you to fall behind on bills 
• Check into rehab if substance abuse or another addiction, such as gambling, made it difficult to pay the rent at your last home
• File for bankruptcy or enroll in a debt consolidation program if you are finding it difficult to qualify for a rental home due to a low credit score

Worried about how you will afford these things?  Some cities provide free medical care for individuals who are homeless, and you can find information about this at your local welfare or family services office. In addition to paying for prescription drugs and doctors' appointments, free medical care may also help you enroll in a rehab facility or psychiatric hospital where you can address substance abuse issues. 

Develop a Plan

Only 15% of homeless people are classified as chronically homeless. The other 85% of homeless people are families and individuals who are plagued with temporary financial problems or cannot find affordable housing. If you are part of that 85%, then it's important to remember that you won't be homeless forever. Develop a plan that details your goals for the future, including:

• How long it will take you to save up enough money or build up enough credit to find a permanent home
• Steps you are taking to improve your financial situation, such as enrolling in college or applying for new jobs
• The amount of visitation time you would ideally like to have with your kids

If you're homeless, that doesn't mean that you can't see your kids -- especially if you are able to meet their basic needs during visitations and have plans to improve your current situation. Schedule a consultation with an experienced divorce attorney from a site like http://www.glfamilylaw.com to learn more about your legal rights. Many lawyers offer payment plans, and some even partner with community agencies to provide pro-bono services. You deserve the opportunity to be a good mom or dad to your kids, and an established custody lawyer will work hard to ensure that you are able to do so.